Muzzle



(No Model.) 5

' J. B. MILLER.

MUZZLE.

No. 545,207. Patented Aug. 27, 1895.

UNITED STATES PATENT rricnl JOHN BLACKBURN MILLER, OF NE\V XVINDSOR, NEW YORK.

MUZZLE.

SPECIFICATION forming pa'rt of Letters Patent No. 545,207, dated August 27, 1895.

Application filed February 2 3, 1895. S rial No. 539,977. (No model.)

To c/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN BLACKBURN MIL- LEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at New \Vindsor, in the county of Orange and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Muzzles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to an animalmuzzle designed to permit freedom to the head and to prevent biting or feeding by the animal when worn, and in this connection it relates particularly to the general construction and arrangement of such a muzzle.

The principal objects of my invention are, first, to provide a muzzle which is strong, but light in weight, simple in construction, and comparatively inexpensive; second, to provide a muzzle which, while preventing biting and feeding by the animal, permits freedom of the head and also allows the animal to drink; third, to provide in such a muzzle means for securing the same to the animal by a collar and strap, whereby it is impossible for the muzzle to drop ofi or to be shaken off by the animal; fourth, to provide in such a muzzle crossing-straps and nose-straps, secured together by tacks or rivets, forming a cage at the snout of the animal, whereby the muzzle at that point is strongly reinforced; fifth, to provide in such a muzzle improved grippingbuckles for securing the straps'of the muzzle together and for securing a strap of the muzzle to the collar ofthe animal, and, sixth, to provide in such a muzzle two crossing-straps united together by rivets or otherwise, each crossing-strap consisting of a double strap terminating at the ends in a single strap and buckle.

My invention, stated in general terms, consists of an animal-muzzle constructed and arranged in substantially the manner hereinafter described and claimed.

The nature and general features of my inand the strap securing the muzzle to the collar. Fig. '2 is a transverse sectional view on the line a: a: of Fig. 1, illustrating the method of uniting the double crossingstraps and the circular or nose straps together to form the cage. Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the muzzle in operative position upon a dog,and Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively detail perspective views illustrating the improved buckle for uniting the straps of the muzzle together.

Referring to the drawings, a represents the collar of an animal, and b a check-strap secured thereto by a loop I). This strap 1) by preference is made of double thickness and at its forward end is provided a buckle c and another loop 19 Through the loop b passes the neck-strap d, which is capable of adjustment by means of the buckle 0, similar in construction to the buckle c of check'strap b. Looped or otherwise secured at the head and chin portions of this. strap 01 are the short straps d and (2 one of which (1' is by prefer ence a continuation of the check-strap Z). From the slides of the neck-strap d extend the short straps 61 From the strap (1 to the strap (1 extends the top and bottom muzzlestrap 6, which by preference consists of the double straps e and c terminating in and joined by single straps e and 6 The strap e unites the top portion of the muzzle-strap to the short strap d, and the strap e unites the bottom portion of the muzzle-strap to the short strap d by means of the respective buckles c and 0 From the short straps (I extend the side muzzle-straps f, consisting of two strapsf andf terminatingin and joined by the single strap f to said straps d by means of buckles c Extending around the nose of the muzzle are the hoop-shaped strap or straps g and g. The side muzzle-straps f and top and bottom muzzle-straps e are united together by tacks or rivets h at the points of intersection h, 71. 71, and h at the front of the muzzle, and the side and top and bottom muzzle-straps are united, as at 70 and 7a, to the hoop-straps g and g" in a similar manner. There is thus formed at the point of the muzzle a cage consisting of the side and top and bottom muzzle-straps and the nose-straps. The manner of joining these straps to form the cage is particularly illustrated in Fig. 2.

The buckles c, 0, c and c by preference are all similarly constructed. Each consists, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, of the bottom plate Z, having the upright bearings Z and upright gripping teeth Z and a top plate m having the pintles m and projecting gripping-teeth m The plates land m are united together by slipping the pintles m of the plate minto the openings Z of the bearings Z of the platel. The strap or straps of the muzzle are drawn through the buckle, while the j aw or plate m is elevated at substantially right angles to the plate Z until the strap is shortened to the desired length, when the plate m is lowered down upon the plate Z, the

' gripping-teeth of both plates engaging the upper and lower faces of the strap.

The neck-strap 62 serves to confine the muzzle to the head of the animal, and the checkstrap 7) secures the muzzle to the collar, and thus prevents the shaking off of the muzzle, while allowing sufficient freedom of the head within the muzzle to permit the animal to breathe or drink, but preventing biting or eating'or feeding.

If desired the collar a may be replaced by an auxiliary strap, which would in fact occupy the same position and perform the same functions for the muzzle as does the collar a.

Having thus described the nature and objects of my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A muzzle consisting of a cage, an adjustable neck strap, an adjustable check strap and a collar strap, the cage being removably secured to the neck strap, andthe neck strap removably secured to the collar strap by the check strap, whereby the cage is confined to the snout of the animal by the neck, check and collar straps, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In an animal muzzle, a cage, consisting of the hoop straps, double side, top and bottom straps, the side, top and bottom straps crossing each other and united together in A front of the hoop straps, and crossing the hoop straps and united thereto at the sides, top and bottom of the cage, neck and check straps and buckles consisting of gripping jaws or plates pivotally secured, the buckles uniting the cage to the neck strap, and the latter to the check-strap, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my signature in the presence of two subscrib- 5 ing witnesses.

J. BLACKBURN MILLER.

Witnesses:

H. SNOWMAN, P. R. MlLLER. 

